College of the Desert vs. SRJC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Rosa Junior College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (17,854 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Santa Rosa Junior College is in Santa Rosa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Santa Rosa Junior College 20:1.

College of the Desert vs. SRJC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or SRJC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Rosa Junior College than College of the Desert ($8,690 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Rosa Junior College are 13.8% lower than at College of the Desert ($21,676 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SRJC (about $8 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,318.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.1% higher at SRJC than at College of the Desert (about $1,134 more per year; $11,308.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Santa Rosa Junior College (88% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 24.4% larger than aid received by Santa Rosa Junior College students ($6,822 vs. $5,485).

College of the Desert vs. SRJC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or SRJC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SRJC and College of the Desert.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Desert - Open admission; SRJC - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. SRJC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and SRJC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $2,662 lower median loan debt than SRJC graduates ($5,338 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SRJC graduates ($55 vs. $82).
• More SRJC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 35%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.